The annual Chunky River Raft Race and Festival is set for Saturday, June 2, from 9-5 p.m. hosted by Chunky Shoals Fish Camp. This year, as in the years before, all entry fees and donations will benefit Alzheimer’s Mississippi. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9:30.

The reason Alzheimer’s Mississippi is important to Rick Lewis, coordinator, and his family, is because they lost their mother to the dreaded disease. “With Alzheimer’s Mississippi, all of the money made is kept in the state,” Lewis said. “We did this in honor of our Mother.”

Like many families who deal with the disease, Lewis said that when his mother was diagnosed, they had no idea about the diseases’ effects or where to turn for help.

But after finding support groups in Meridian, they were able to get the help they needed. That’s why keeping the money in the state and locally is so important to Lewis and his family.

There will be events for all ages to enjoy. In addition to the river race, there will be raffle drawings, a rubber duck race for a $5 donation, arts and crafts, kids zone, concessions, and DJ Buddy Lewis will provide music all day. Music will be provided at 6:30 p.m. by local musicians Timmy Segars and Chad Peavy.

A $200 grand trophy prize will be given for the most creative and innovative raft. First, second and third place trophies will be given for each class. The winners must be present to win.

Race classes are kayak, canoe and rafts. The route is three miles long and will run from the fish camp to Point Road Landing.

“We are hoping we can get more families involved in making rafts,” said Lewis. “This event gets families out and off the couch because it is a kid-friendly event.”

In addition to the race and other activities, three county emergency management teams will be on hand to help if needed, Lewis said. The counties of Lauderdale, Newton and Clarke will be represented.

“They come here to do mock training and we are the command post for them if a disaster happens,” said Lewis. Chunky River runs through all three of the counties. “These guys are always there when we call 911 and we like to recognize these guys,” he said. Local fire departments will also be at the event.

“The only difference in this year’s event and those past, is we are having live music both during the day and earlier in the night,” said Lewis. The total time on the water is usually between one and three hours.

“We just want to invite everyone down and want to keep it safe and responsible,” said Lewis.

Pearl Smith has played an active roll in the race since its inception and she and her husband, Wayne, own Stuckey Bridge Canoe Rental.

“It’s not just the race we enjoy, it’s a fun time for everybody,” she said. For a couple of years she participated in the raft race, building her own raft, but she now mans the East Mississippi Foothills Land Trust booth. This organization works to keep the waterways clean and with land conservation, Volunteers clean Chunky River a couple weeks after the race.

“We provide sunscreen and mosquito spray,” said Smith. She and her husband also make sure people know where they’re going and shuttle them free to the area.

She added that there is no alcohol allowed in the race.

“This is a place you can bring your family and be sure there are no shenanigans,” she said. “It’s a fun little neighborhood thing.”

This event is not the only way the Lewis family raise money for Alzheimer’s Mississippi. There is a table in the fish camp that has a glass top on it with quarters stuck between the glass table top and the table. Smith said there is an interesting story on how this got started.

“When I went in there one day, Rick’s daddy, (Milton Lewis,) was in there sitting at that table, she said. “I asked him if I could sit with him and he said ‘Yeah, but it’s gonna cost you a quarter,’ Smith wedged a quarter under the glass and the rest, so to speak, is history. Now many patrons leave quarters under the table top and at the end of the year the money goes to the Alzheimer’s Mississippi organization.

Boats are not provided for the race but rentals may be obtained by calling Pearl Smith at Stuckey Bridge Canoe Rental at 601-481-4211. The fish camp is located at 13221 Highway 80 in Chunky.